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Maternity Care Project

The goal of the EAM Maternity Care Project is to be a resource for a mom-to-be in Michigan to educate herself on the choices she has during pregnancy. There are so many choices to make while pregnant. What theme will the nursery be? Which stroller will be best? Which name will be perfect for the little one? Most women research hours as to which products are the best for the gift registry but yet women often neglect spending just as much time researching the best birthing center.

For the most part, women go to the birthing center (hospital) her doctor is affiliated with. Guess what? YOU HAVE A CHOICE! What if you’re considered high-risk for a premature birth and the birthing center your doctor delivers at does not have the proper Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to care for a preemie? What if your doctor delivers at a hospital with sub-par patient safety ratings? The EAM Maternity Care Project has every birthing center in Michigan listed with various safety measurements included to help you in your decision-making process. CLICK HERE for Birthing Center Safety Ratings.

Another goal of the EAM Maternity Care Project is to reduce the infant mortality rate in Michigan and reduce the rate of unnecessary C-sections. According to the CDC, in 2016, the U.S. c-section rate average was 32% with Michigan ranking 18th for the highest rate of c-sections among states at 32%. The World Health Organization recommends that the ideal c-section rate (country average) should be around 15%. When c-section rates in a country move towards 15%, there is a significant decrease in maternal and newborn deaths. When the rate goes over 15%, there is no evidence that death rates improve – therefore the risks outweigh the benefits. CLICK HERE to understand the dangers associated with unnecessary c-sections.

Infant mortality is defined as the death of a baby before his or her first birthday. By definition infant mortality does not include still birth babies but does include neonatal death (less than 28 days since birth) and perinatal death (28 to 364 days after birth).

Infant mortality is an important indicator of health status of the current population and is used to predict the health trends of the next generation. Unfortunately, the United States has one of the highest infant mortality rates among developed or industrialized nations. In comparison to our neighbors across the pond, Great Britain, the U.S has an infant mortality rate of 5.85 deaths per 1000 infants in comparison to Great Britain’s 3.86 deaths per 1000 infants.

Receiving prenatal care, even before conception, can aid in identifying issues that may affect the health of the baby and in turn reduce the risk of infant death. Infant mortality can be directly linked to several causes, including complications arising due to a preterm birth or low birth weight, Sudden Infant Death (SIDS), birth defects, and accidents. Regular prenatal visits can help insure that your baby is growing at a healthy rate and can mediate complications that may lead to preterm birth.CLICK HERE for more information regarding the Importance of Prenatal Care.

A significant contribution in reducing the risk of infant death is prenatal and newborn screening. Screening is conducting right after birth so that if any ailments are present, but not readily noticeable, treatment can begin immediately and possibly save an infant’s life.CLICK HERE for a list of Prenatal Tests,find out which ones are standard and which are optional.